Sitting Room - progress in house ....................

Well making progress in Sitting Room which is 14x14ft so not very big, and 3 windows (all differnt sizes and at different heights!)
Theme is to be cottagey as very low ceilings (6ft) and cosy like a snug despite 3 doorways and 2 staircases coming off the room. This will contrast nicely with tha more formal and severe drawing room
We discovered under a naff laminate floor and poor damp proofing the original Suffolk Brick flooring, all in herring bone pattern  - so we had it dug it up and had a new damp proof membrane , insulation and the bricks relaid the same way - cost a fortune - but worth it!! We had also removed a very horrible partition which took up a lot of rooma nd made it impossible to get anything up or down either stair well and an ill fitting marble hearth & mantlepiece

The  new hearth of 2 BIG slabs sandstone then a new multifuel woodburner in place on top of new hearth - replacing the one that was way too large for the opening (which we sent up to my parents for their 16thC house, which has stone walls 3 foot thick)

Note the novel paintwork ............it was worse ................. ahh hmmmm ... Kandinsky? I think not............
The wicker basket has all waste paper and paper twists for burning and the wooden box has logs and kindling in it

New finish on lumpy wall was then applied to even out all the different periods replastering - the renewal of damp proofing - and replastering up to one metre high .................... the replatsering around the window and multiple layers paint ...flaking off making lumps n bumnps

Now with texture paint ......evening it all out and leaving a rustic farmhouse finish - floor,  new hearth and stove suitable protected! The paint finish was hard work to apply - and messy, but did a good job evening out the wall without having to have it all replasterd !

Now painted with a hand mixed peachy pink to match the restored Suffolk Brick floor (which is coloured from a soft yellow to a burnt sienna rust) . Took ages to mix ............. white and a terracotta and lost dabbing on all walls to see how it looked in different lights - 3 windows in room

I am not a great lover of pink walls - but white (my usual colour)  just doesn't work nor any pale colour (looks anaemic) ................ the house seems to need colour ................ and in places stronger colours than I usually use and pattern!! I usually use white n plain cream fabric - my books and art usually adding enough pattern colour and texture

But in this house it looks anaemic ...........so have tog et colourful!

Yet to finsih off floor - needs cleaning up then oiling for protection - and colours will glow then

Heres a pic showing the floor wet (left) and dry (right) - see how when dry colours look grey adn pastel but when wet colours are much brighter and deeper. Yett to remove the layer of cement off the bricks as a result of dry sand n mortar joints being wetted. So when that done and floor oiled with linseed it will look  brighter with deeper colours and glow  ... so I have to keep remembering that when choosing colours!

Now to make new full length curtains in a terracota damask for sitting room - temp ones ok but not right colour being a pale green sateen and short!

Then new rug, paintings, mirrors, wall hangings up ......................and whatever else will look good in there

Home again ..........but very very tired

Well home - and its warmer than Florence and even been sunny past few days - even if still  a bit chilly
Pleased to be home and after teh fun of being home the post-exertion wilt hit hard and fast
So been very very frustrated ...as so tired - feel as if someone has unplugged my mains power supply and reserve battery very flat!

Sorry did not post pics etc when in Florence - but internet access limited and picky - ie would not let me upload pics!
So will update the highlights of the trip - so watch this space

Now trying to gather energies and inspiration for new projects ........ started a new scarf last night inspired by a feriends knitting ........... its a free form coral scarf ................... in a coral pinky-orangey sort of colour - pics to follow and the pattern

Well better get some coffee and brekkies .......................... more later

Snowing in Florence

Set off today .in light snow driven by verys trong winds ...............adding to teh Florentine experience
Then sniow turned to driving rain .....and heavy snow forecast  .......not what I was expecting at all!!

Anway managed to see a couple things  Danzatti was lovely and the Museo Firenza Cam'era was intriguing  - maps and a bit of archaeology
Hope to see Archaeology Museum tomorros - snow permitting
As has Nefertiti's head there - so a must see

Well have to go get warm n some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's as exhausted and achey - crawled back to bus for hotel ..................... pics to follow

FLORENCE - FIRENZE

Well arrived in Florence - its wet and cold and windy
In fact b****dy freezing - here i was expecting it to be WARMER than UK - n its NOT

Ponte Vecchio - wet n raining but still beautiful

Arno - a brown muddy river

Anyway enough of whingeing like the POM I am - the architecture and art are all brilliant and ii is wonderful to put all my art background into context - all those lectures on Renaissance Art are now in context ......................

So pics to follow ......................and some amazing revelations - so watch this space

Revelation1 - Ponte Vecchio - well renown for its goldsmiths - some of it rather gaudy n not nice - other shops have gorgeous stuff  and/or antique pieces - needless tosay teh windows with not-a-lot in were the best ditto the ones with no prices ie if you have to ask you cant afford it ........needless to say those were the ones I liked

DH has the most wondrous ablity to walk down the middle of streets with anything resembling a shop where i might spend money .....but veers toward foodie shops and restaurants .................... he needs to be trained .................oh dearie me

The city centre is chokkah with leather n shoe n bag shops - so much so it puts you off buying anything ................... every other shop sells leather jackets bags belts - even t market stalls

AND how the Italian shoe designers can expect customers to wear vertiginous heels on such uneven pavements is beyond belief!!!!!!!!! I keep falling over in flats!

So despite foul weather - am happy if very footsore and achey and I know will pay for it when I get home - but it will be worth it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I keep telling myself that as I soak every night in steaming hot bath - trying to soothe aches n pains ................. despite all the wondrous things to see - still struggle like the devil to get up and walk about ........... had to be carried home this evening and last night was a pizza in teh room as in toooooooooooo much pain to even walk across the street to a restaurant ..................anyway am off to bed now
Feet up on heap pillows and hope I can sleep - the sleep of the righteous - seen enough religious paintings/icons/frescoes for any defaulting human

Absent .........................

Well not been on as been recovering from hospital ... anaesthetic which never agrees with me ..even more so with the ME/CFIDS - but at least this time allowed home (unlike last time)
Taken me a week to stop zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing n wobbling all over the place - but a bit more stable now

Hence silence

Started on a flower patch style small blanket ...........pics to come - when not too sleepy ......... and written up a pattern for a moebius cowl
My friend saw it and demanded pattern ......... now for the other designs
So lots to catch up on

Will post some pics asap

Hope wherever you are weather nicer than here .....been pouring with rain and windy - ugh - grim!
Ohhhhhhhhhh for Spring and sunshine and warmth....................... but crocuses in the garden ...............so its on its way ... HURRAH HURRAH !